About

Salina Kassam is a widely travelled photographer of architecture and construction. Her photographs can bring a sense of space and context in an artful way, while respecting the reflections of architects and engineers. With this unique approach, she tells the story of a building in an organic way, using angles and light to create a unique image composition. Salina specializes in documenting the entire construction process, from demolition and excavation to the final reveal of the structure, space and function.

Salina is a freelance photographer based in Toronto. She studied documentary photography at The International Centre for Photography in New York and Ryerson University in Toronto. Her work has taken her to many corners of the globe where her passion for observing the every day has culminated in many bodies of work that bring home a story that is sensitive to the human landscape.

Her work has won awards and she has been recognized for her contributions to many humanitarian organizations in Africa and India, Central America as well as at home in Canada. Salina has worked with Photosensitive, a group of photographers who focus on human issues bringing awareness through photography.

Documentaries

2004 Canadian Crossroads International Tamil Nadu, India www.cciorg.ca. Supported by CCI, HUT (Human Uplift Trust) www.hutindia.org is a locally founded organization in Tamil Nadu. Poverty abounds and local communities have very little access to education and treatment, hence HIV is an issue that is often ignored. HUT has raised awareness despite the cultural stigmas to reduce the incidence rate and provide treatment in a welcoming environment.2004 NET AID Andhra Pradesh, India www.netaid.orgThe local population of Vijayawada has been affected severely by climate change and natural. As such, poverty abounds and children have little hope or ambition to change that. Shangamitra Society focuses their resources on rural communities to encourage primary education, hoping to stimulate children to seek formal education. With this, the hope is that entire villages will flourish and be self-sustaining.2003 CAMFED International Zambia www.uk.camfed.orgFocusing on health and education and equal opportunities for girls2001 Medicines sans frontiers MSF Guatemala www.msf.org

Awards

2003 SNAP- Toronto Best black and white photograph

Community

2006 Photosensitive www.photosensitive.comStrength Within. Celebrating 50 years of the United Way’s activities in Torontowww.unitedway.com2007 Photosensitive www.photosensitive.comCommunities in Focus: commemorating 25 years of The Trillium Foundation’s work in Ontario2008 Photosensitive www.photosensitive.com The Cancer Project